China appeals WTO ruling on media distribution

Beijing has appealed against the WTO’s ruling that China must ease its restrictions on the distribution of Hollywood movies and other Western media, AFP reported, citing a source close to the trade body. The US first filed a complaint on the issue in 2007 and the WTO’s dispute resolution panel agreed in August that China was in breach of international trade rules by preventing foreign-owned companies becoming importers and wholesalers of films, music and printed matter. Separately, US President Barack Obama has reassured his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao that America remains committed to free trade, despite recent tensions between the two nations, Reuters reported. A US official confirmed that trade tariffs were discussed as the two leaders spoke on the sidelines of the UN climate summit on Tuesday. Washington has imposed tariffs on imports of Chinese tires, prompting accusations of protectionism from Beijing.